ONE Championship has terminated three key executives: vice president and former UFC fighter Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competition Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Shelter. The dismissals come amid continuing financial difficulties and event cancellations for the promotion. The report suggests these moves indicate ONE Championship's struggle to maintain its position as one of the world's leading MMA organizations. Additional concerns cited include fighter departures, reduced activity among remaining athletes, cancellations of major bouts and events, and overall organizational instability. The post includes a suggestion directed at fighter Anatoly Malykhin to consider leaving the promotion.
ONE Championship has parted ways with three prominent executives, according to a report published on April 16, 2026, as the promotion continues to navigate significant financial headwinds.
The three departures include vice president Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competition Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Shelter. Franklin, a 51-year-old American fighter-turned-executive, is best known for his decorated career inside the cage, where he compiled a 29-7-0 professional record. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, the southpaw known as "Ace" averaged 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute during his fighting days, with a 44 percent striking accuracy and 1.31 takedowns per 15 minutes. He had been serving ONE Championship in a vice president capacity following his retirement from competition.
The report frames the executive cuts as a symptom of deeper organizational strain, citing fighter departures, reduced athlete activity, cancellations of major bouts and events, and broad instability within the promotion. ONE Championship has faced mounting pressure to sustain its reputation as one of the premier combat sports organizations globally, and these dismissals add to a growing list of concerns about its trajectory.
The report also directed attention toward heavyweight champion Anatoly Malykhin, suggesting he weigh his options given the promotion's current instability.
Why it matters
- Losing three senior figures simultaneously — including operations, competition, and executive leadership — signals significant internal disruption
- The departures of experienced personnel like Franklin and Hume raise questions about ONE Championship's ability to maintain competitive matchmaking and event quality
- Fighter retention concerns, including the suggestion directed at Malykhin, could further destabilize ONE Championship's roster and championship picture
- Continued event cancellations compound financial pressures and reduce the promotion's visibility on the global MMA stage
